# Thudakkam dog was already named Messi, says Jude Anthany 2026-08-14T16:24:06+00:00 | Entertainment | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet The Labrador playing Meenu’s pet dog in Thudakkam was already named Messi, director Jude Anthany Joseph told Onmanorama. The filmmakers initially called him Harry, as stated in the script, but the dog did not respond. He reacted only when called Messi, so the production kept his real name. Jude said the name reflected the owner’s admiration for Lionel Messi and was not intended to offend football fans. He also explained that a Liverpool logo and the dog’s name were part of the characters’ identities. Shooting with the Labrador often required long waits, while his lookalike father sometimes stood in for him. Jude also praised Vismaya Mohanlal, Aashish and Bobby Kurian. ## Coverage - onmanorama.com Tags: Jude Anthany Joseph, Lionel Messi, Liverpool, Thudakkam, Vismaya Mohanlal Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/thudakkam-dog-was-already-named-messi-says-jude-anthany/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/thudakkam-dog-was-already-named-messi-says-jude-anthany/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.